STILWELL, Okla. – The Cherokee Nation is working with nine schools in Adair County to promote healthier lifestyles for students.

Cherokee Nation Public Health provided more than $50,000 total to Maryetta, Stilwell, Greasy, Rocky Mountain, Zion, Bell, Cave Springs, Peavine and Dahlonegah public schools through the tribe’s School Health Leadership Award program. Each school received $5,700 in 2017 to start programs related to fitness or healthy eating.

Adair County is home of the largest population per capita of Cherokee Nation citizens.

“It is important to instill healthy lifestyle habits, including diet choices, in our youth at a very early age,” said Cherokee Nation Tribal Council Secretary Frankie Hargis, of Stilwell. “I’m thankful the tribe can help these school systems implement programs that will provide the resources needed to demonstrate these habits to youth in Adair County.”

Additionally, Cherokee Nation Public Health was selected by the state in 2017 as a Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust grant recipient for Adair County. With $230,400 in grant funding, the tribe is helping Adair County schools create new health initiatives to reduce tobacco use and childhood obesity.

Dahlonegah Public School, for example, received $1,500 in TSET funds from the tribe to improve the school’s walking trail and buy additional fitness equipment.

Dahlonegah Public School Superintendent Jeff Limore said noticeable changes are happening.

“We have been able to teach our students about not only staying active, but to make healthy choices,” he said.

For more information about TSET, visit https://tset.ok.gov/. For more information about Cherokee Nation Public Health, call 918-453-5600.